Famous Last Words

What a year it has been.  We’re about to enter year 3 of COVID and this is something that I thought would be a couple months long.  I sure hope that this time next year we have better news when it comes to COVID. 

It’s been another year of HIGHS and LOWS.  In some ways it seems like this year went by reasonably fast and in other ways it seems like it took forever to get to this point. 

The weather has been crazy with unseasonable high temperatures for December and even an outbreak of tornados earlier in the month.  We lost a lot of good people this year as we do every year. 

Here’s hoping that 2022 will get us to the point of peace on earth.  I hope it’s a year that brings me more good news than bad and that my Gator is still by myside this time next year. 

Now I shuffle off to work (from home) to take care of end of year business.  I will be working a bit tomorrow to take care of first of year business.  My friends have invited me over for an open house they are having.  Allegedly everyone is vaccinated but I don’t want to go and it’s got nothing to do with the virus.  In many ways it will be just another Saturday for me.  I plan on business as usual. 

I don’t think that I will make it past midnight but may well surprise myself.  One thing is for sure that tomorrow will be here if I wake to see it.  New Year’s like Christmas has lost it’s luster with me being alone.  I just hope that things turn around soon.

May the New Year bring you many blessings and good times.  Here’s hoping for the best for everyone in 2022!

Close to EOY

I finally got rid of my holiday blues last night.  I was listening to some music and I just broke down.  Gator doesn’t like it when I cry, it woke her up and she was concerned.  Not exactly sure what she was thinking but I told her what was on my mind and why I was crying.  One can only take so much before you reach your breaking point.  I am glad that it’s behind me and hopefully it won’t hit me again with the short pause we have for New Years, but it is possible. 

My work email was a nightmare but I managed to wade through it and took care of what I needed to and filed/deleted the rest.  So much of it was junk.  It wasn’t until late afternoon that I was able to be with Gator upstairs.  She was really good about it and napped away in my room but eventually moved to the living room, waiting on me.  It was a productive day but it was a bit of hard work as well. 

I made the decision to order the parts needed for my vehicle to upgrade to 4G.  Let’s hope that sticks around for a few more years.  Figuring in high for taxes it will be around $700 installed, that’s parts and labor.  Once the parts arrive in then I will get a call to schedule the work.  It takes 2 hours to complete.  The dealer where I have to go is about an hour from my house, so this will be at minimum a 4 hour trip.  It’s not like I am short on time off but I am trying to hopefully work it in with my trip to the doctor in a couple weeks, the timing of the parts arrival will be everything.  Hopefully, there aren’t any supply chain issues that affect me but if so there isn’t much I can do about it but roll with it.  The 3G Network shuts down towards the end of February 2022.  I will admit it is tempting to buy a new vehicle and when I get to the showroom while I wait for the repairs to be done I will want one but all things considered it’s reasonable right now to hold off.  I have my eyes open and when the time is right for me I will make that move, for now I have to be content with what I have and what I have isn’t bad it’s just 4 years old, soon to be 5. 

Today I figured out that my boss is only out of the office this week  He had planned for two full weeks but apparently changed his plans, which I am not thrilled with at all.  There is just much more drama and chaos when he is around and it’s mostly needless. 

There isn’t much going on considering this is the last week of the year, lots of people are on vacation.  I got a little curiosity and that is kind of a bad thing.  I heard this little voice in my head say don’t do it but I forged forward instead.  I was spying on a crush an set off an alarm.  I took care of the alarm because it’s part of my job but where I was on the network is logged in a file forever and if someone gets curious and decides to ask questions that could cause problems for me.  I know how to be vague and call it an accident but not sure how well that will fly.  I was vague with my team on the alarm.  I don’t think anyone will be asking questions or so I hope.  I have to learn to trust that little voice more because when I don’t there is always a price to pay. 

Speaking of voices, I feel my sugar starting to drop.  I didn’t eat much for lunch because I wasn’t feeling the best but that has changed and I am ready to mow down a buffet line.  Instead I will be having some pasta.  I am thinking later about some of the Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding and then topping that with Chocolate Pudding.  It sounds strange but it also sounds really good to me. 

Not sure of what I will watch on TV tonight but I am ready for some relaxing time, sleep and to tackle tomorrow.  Hope your doing well and that I didn’t make you hungry.  I will talk with you all again soon. 

Alone on Christmas

For the first time in 9 years I found myself all alone on Christmas.  I’ve still got Gator but I wasn’t around any other humans.  Christmas at my friends house was cancelled because one of them got sick.  I suggested cancelling and he went for it quicker than I sent the text.  I got a message back that said we will get together after the new year.  If Easter counts as after the new year then I guess that will be a true statement.  Look I had had my mind made up that I wasn’t going but honestly I probably would have gone just to be around others.  It’s really depressing to be all alone on a holiday with no one to talk to, other than a cat.  I’ve also had my phone turned off on purpose so I didn’t have any distractions, I turned it back on because I need to get somethings done and in this modern day and age with 2 Factor Auth. I can’t get in to anything with out my phone. 

I woke up early, fed the cat and started watching TV.  Eventually went back to bed for a couple more hours, then got up and had breakfast.  Then back to the TV.  I had all of the intentions of getting a shower but that never materialized.  I wound up taking an unplanned nap and then watching way more TV.  Snacking and feeding the cat a couple more times. 

I am exhausting all of the streaming content that I can.  Saw 8 Bit Christmas on HBO Max.  It’s an NPH movie and it was really good.  Been through the series Twenty Somethings on Netflix, that was like a Real World but much shorter.  There has been so much content that I have consumed I don’t honestly remember most of it but there have been some good movies.  Kind of appropriate but I started the day out watching Christmas is cancelled. 

I’ve been depressed over this but hell it’s just a holiday and time alone can be a good thing.  I like not having any pressure and being able to do what I want when I want.  However, that will all come to an end when Monday gets here and it’s back to work.  Feels odd having Christmas on a Saturday. 

The grocery stores here are all closed all weekend long.  I got up early on Friday and hit up breakfast out, the grocery store and gas station.  I’ve been home ever since.  I’ve managed to get the bathroom clean and clean part of the kitchen.  There are many other cleaning projects I had planned but never got to them.  I don’t have high hopes that I will get to them tomorrow but I guess I don’t know that for sure until tomorrow gets here. 

I got some really upsetting news late in the day on Thursday.  The modem in my vehicle is a 3G modem.  The 3G cellular networks by all of the major carriers (ATT, Verizon & Sprint/TMOBILE) will all shutdown in early 2022.  That means that those devices will become giant bricks and won’t even be able to call 911 for help.  For me this means I have to reach out to my dealer to find out the cost for a 4G modem and what it will cost in labor to install.  This is all out of warranty so I will bare the full cost.  However, I do have an extended warranty and they may well cover some of this.  Plus the fact that the announcement was made back in 2020 that these networks would be shutting down, back then my vehicle was well in warranty so I am going to argue with the manufacturer.  I shouldn’t have had this dropped in my lap last minute.  If I don’t upgrade then I loose all of the remote functionality like remote start/stop, unlock/lock and being able to check on oil life and see how much gas I have left.  It negatively impacts the cars resale value as well.  I have until May I believe to get the new modem and other parts associated with the upgrade.  Chances are pretty good I could do this myself but I am comfortable letting a dealer do the work just as long as it doesn’t cost me a bunch of money.  I will also have to start paying for the app and have no idea what that will cost me.  The infotainment system will still work because that is powered by Bluetooth, so if I am in a serious wreck and my phone is paired up, it will call 911 but it won’t be able to tell them where I am if I don’t upgrade the modem because that is what powers the onboard navigation system.  I could always trade the car now and let it be someone else’s problem but that I feel is rash and would put me further into debt.  As it stands now I am very close to paying off my current vehicle.  It’s a 2017 and were just about to approach 50 thousand miles.  That is thanks to the pandemic that the mileage is so low.  I am pretty sure that trade value would easily come close if not pay off the entire loan.  However, my plan was not to trade until later next year.  Chances are I will keep this even after the extended warranty expires because it’s been good to me, other than eating tires.  I put a new battery in it at the start of this year and that was covered under warranty.  If it starts acting up and draining my bank account I will get rid of it but as I see it now I’ve got something dependable.  I really didn’t need this but hey no one ever really needs a problem.

Going back in time I got my massage and I have been really sore ever since.  I took a muscle relaxer afterwards but it only provided minor relief.  I’ve been living with the soreness and it’s starting to wear off.  If I could get 45 minutes every week I think it would help keep the knots down and I would feel much better but it’s not cheap and not everyone uses the same level of pressure.  I wanted this to be more firm pressure and for her to really dig into the knots.  I also said I only want to focus on the upper back and not have anything else touched.  Next thing you know she is pulling my underwear down and touching my butt to work my SI joints.  I don’t know why she bothered to ask what I wanted since she clearly had a mind of her own.  Were midway into the massage and she tells me she is bi-polar not exactly comforting news.  Ah well it’s over. 

I need to grab some laundry, check on the gator and then I am going to dig into the Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding I found by accident when I made my panic run to the grocery store.  I was more worried about having enough food for Gator. 

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.  I have enjoyed my time with Gator and am glad that at the very least we are together.  She knows I am depressed and that something is bothering me.  She has tried to keep me cheered up when she is not passed out cold or demanding food.  I still have to do my stupid report, even though it’s Christmas and I am on vacation. 

Take care and we will talk again soon! 

 

Surprise

All of my Amazon deliveries arrived today.  I got the new camera setup this evening.  It was very simple.  The only draw back is there is no zoom (which I thought I had).  It’s got motion tracking and sound alerts so my phone chirps when Gator cries or if she decides to get off the couch.  I have a limited field of view but it does a good job of tracking her.  Kind of makes me want to setup additional cameras throughout the house to have full view and watch her.  There is a cloud recording feature and the company pushes that pretty hard with all sorts of special introductory offers.  I do see the use case for it but given that I am just tracking a cat and not using this for security I don’t think that I need a cloud to be able to review the data. 

My new Air Pods are really good.  I like the Spatial Audio it really makes the music come to life.  It’s not quite as the same as a concert but it is really good.  I used them for a phone call and that went very well.  The left pod/bud kept falling out of my ear but the right one stayed put. 

As for the mouse pad I don’t like the wrist rest, it’s not spongy like I was expecting but I opened 1 already.  I am using it but just not happy.  So I will take a gander if I manage to make it to Target tomorrow. 

I wound up waking up super early and stayed up until about 11a, then had to take a nap.  I woke up and that’s when I got involved in a phone call.  I went to leave to get Detroit Pizza and learned that the place didn’t have dine in.  I didn’t want carry out considering the distance so instead I went to Red Lobster.  I had a decent full serving of Crab Alfredo and wolfed it down.  It was only my second meal of the day and my sugar levels dropped when I woke up from that aforementioned nap. 

I had plans to hit up Target tonight but instead opted to come home.  My colleague managed to loose several days worth of data in our stupid report.  I have spent an hour gathering it all up again for him.  Not exactly how I planned on spending my evening but I am a team player or crazy – perhaps both. 

I got a text from my friends and were having Prime Rib and Mashed Potatoes on Christmas.  I really want to pass on this.  I am not a fan of his Prime Rib nor his Mashed Potatoes.  The Prime Rib is very fatty and not cooked all the way done.  Mashed Potatoes have like 35,000 cloves of garlic and it’s just too over powering for me.  His wife likes it that way and that is why he makes them that way.  Were also having company and part of me wants to see these people and another part of me says stay away.  I will probably guilt myself into going but it will really depend on how I feel. 

Looking forward to my massage tomorrow morning.  I still have my booster setup for tomorrow afternoon as well but I don’t know if I am actually going through with it.  I will probably guilt myself into doing this as well.  I really hate the poke in the arm and then the sore arm afterwards.  As well being wiped out the next day.  I may luck out and that may not happen with the 3rd dose but I won’t know until I get it.  I’ve got the time now and it will only work to my benefit to get it.  I just wish they would pick a different spot to administer the injection but no matter which muscle they push it into, you will find that you use that muscle way more than you think you do. 

If I get the shot then I plan on treating myself to some BBQ and then coming back home.  I really want to grab breakfast out tomorrow as well but I don’t know if I will have enough time but I am sure going to try to make it all work. 

I still have plenty of work to do around here so it would actually be a plus if I could have tomorrow evening as well as all day on Thursday to accomplish my cleaning goals.  Friday will be Cat Food shopping again. 

I guess it’s up to be with the little furry lady and listen to her complain to me about her troubles.  She is really limping (arthritis) but it doesn’t seem to slow her down at all.  Back when we were on the full dose of the steroid that wiped out her limp but it was murdering her kidneys at the same time, so I wanted to keep her around and the vet opted to change us to the 1/2 dose.  I can always go back up but it’s not something I want to do because it will shorten what time she has left. 

Hope you had a great day. 

Vacation is here

For the last couple weeks, I have been watching the trial of Kim Potter. She is the former police officer who mistakenly drew her gun instead of her taser and shot & killed Daunte Wright back in April of this year. That feels almost like a lifetime ago with COVID and blursday (every day blending into the next). Closing arguments took place this morning and the case is in the hands of the jury. It was interesting to see how this all played out. I watched from opening statements until today. I have never, ever seen the jury shown on television and I think that was by design. Everyone will have an opinion in this matter. Personally, I believe this was an honest mistake. She meant to draw her taser but her brain took a different action. Had she known she had a gun in her hand and planned to use it, I think that she would have fired more than once. Police are trained to shoot to kill and they are also taught to fire at least twice. It is a very unfortunate mistake and incident to have taken place. Had Mr. Wright complied this wouldn’t have been an issue. His character came out in court and he wasn’t exactly an upstanding citizen but he was young and had his whole life in front of him, which makes this all the more tragic. Needless to say, I am interested in the verdict and think that if we do not hear anything this week, I expect to hear something next week. If deliberations go past that and into the New Year it will very much surprise me. I hate waiting for most anything but regardless of how the verdict is handed down it won’t have any impact on me.

On a different note, I made it back to the office for the first time in 2 years. I went in Saturday afternoon. I only planned to be there an hour or two but wound up staying way beyond that. I have no windows in my office and wasn’t really paying attention to the time. All things considered my office was in decent shape but there was much to clean and sort through. A colleague sends chocolate each year and someone is either holding that for me or swiped it, not sure which. It’s not the greatest but if its in front of me I will devour it. I got some promo gifts from a vendor and that was expected. I got a Christmas card from my boss but this was the second year with no gift. Normally he buys us each something and I am typically not that pleased with what I wind up with but never express any displeasure to him. It was nice of him to send the card. I had a mountain of dust to clean away. I found out the hard way that the refrigerator where all of the soda is stored for clients is now locked on weekends. Good thing for me I had some change in my office and was able to buy a soda. I got my new keyboard hooked up and it’s delightful. Someone turned up the heat my office was amazingly hot. I threw away all of the calendars for 2021, I mean it’s not like I will need them now. I also tossed my 2020 train calendar. There is plenty of trash to be hauled away. I walked around and figured out that a fair number of people have moved. Some even have their own offices now. Since we had some construction done, we have a lot more offices and they are currently empty but I am sure in time they will begin to fill up. I had the entire place to myself. There were people in but they had all left by the time I did my walk around to see what was different. It’s interesting at what has changed and what has stayed the same.

Oddly enough my boss called me last week to talk about of all things my return to the office. He has been under the assumption I have been going in 1 day a week for at least a month or more now. I didn’t bother to correct him. He even told me to keep doing what I am doing because the work is getting done. I think he wants plausible deniability. In any case he said that between the two of us we have an agreement that I will go in 1 day a week. Even when we start to return to more normal and are required to be in the office 3 days a week, he told me at least for a little while I could probably get away with 1 day a week. I still plan to address that with my doctor but don’t have high hopes that I will be told I need to work from home. I am obviously on vacation this week. My boss is out for 2 weeks starting on the 27^th and I have no plans to return to the office while he is out. When he gets back then I will probably start going in. I don’t miss the daily drive of 40 miles 1 way and I certainly don’t miss rush hour traffic. Ah well it is all there waiting for me – the good, the bad and the ugly. I’ll get to it all eventually.

Friday was the start of my vacation and I didn’t really do anything. It was a lazy day. I had my morning call to get the stupid report done, really wish I didn’t have to spend my time off doing work but it is what it is. I watched the series on HBO Finding Magic Mike. I had left a couple episodes for Saturday but it was done in the morning and I knew who the winner was. The one guy I wanted to win was dropped towards the end. It’s a great show and if you like looking at hot shirtless men then this series is a MUST WATCH. Apparently, they perform a live show in Vegas regularly. Not sure if they admit guys but I wouldn’t mind seeing the live show.

Saturday, I had booked a haircut and got that out of the way. Then hit up the post office and pet food store. It’s a Christmas Miracle. I found on an empty shelf sitting all alone 5 cans of Fish & Shrimp which is the flavor Gator loves. I grabbed them in a hurry, even though no one was around. I looked for more but there was none to be had. The selection was still pretty horrible but I managed to get a few cans for her. Then I came home, took a nap and that’s when I went on my trip back to the office. I stopped to get a bite to eat before I came home. The waitress told me they were out of what I wanted and had been for a couple weeks. I ordered something else, meanwhile the guy sitting next to me was served exactly what I wanted in the first place. I was not happy at all. I dropped $30 on a meal that I really didn’t enjoy.

Sunday was another do-nothing day. I had breakfast and stayed in my room all day long. Gator wasn’t very pleased with me but she stuck by my side.

Monday (today) I got the stupid report call out of the way. Watched the trial, got a shower and went to the dentist. I chipped a couple of teeth. When I left everything felt fine. This was quick work and the chips were very minor. Now I still feel a bit of a ridge. I am debating about going back to get it fixed. It’s not sharp but it’s a place that my tongue wants to fidget with and it’s kind of obsessive. If I can train myself to stop then were good, otherwise I need to go back. I hit up the grocery store and Sam’s club. Traffic is abysmal because everyone is out doing holiday shopping. You’d think that since it was a work day that people would be working but that is not the case, apparently, I am not the only person on vacation this week.

Tomorrow I’d like to hit up the breakfast place for that kicked up French toast I had back in October. Then pick up a few pies from Cracker Barrel and deliver them to a couple of unsuspecting people as a holiday gift. Not sure if I will follow through on that part but the breakfast part I will. I need to clean up the house and put up the plastic on the patio door and front windows, winter is here and you can feel it at night. We’re talking lower 20’s and it’s only going to get worse from there. Oddly tomorrow is the first day of Winter. There is also a new place that serves Detroit Style Pizza that came to my area and I want to hit them up to try it because I’ve never had it. They also do New York Style and I’ve had that before and it’s really, really good. I can only imagine what the real thing tastes like from NYC.

I haven’t spent anytime in front of my computer until now. I kind of missed it but it was also nice to get a diversion into TV and escape reality for a while. I am doing the 7-day trial of Paramount Plus through Amazon and have found a few additional things to watch. I haven’t been sleeping the best because I am not really on a regular schedule or at least wasn’t until last night. I am going to try to stick with my normal schedule as much as possible so I won’t be shocked to get back into the routine when this little fun ride of time off ends.

Wednesday I am scheduled for my COVID booster. I really don’t want it at all. However, I know it’s a matter of time before a vaccine mandate is in effect and there is talk about redefining fully vaccinated to include at least 1 booster. I will feel like crap on Thursday, which is why I am not looking forward to it. However, I am on vacation and won’t need to use a sick day. A day of sitting around is good for me, so long as I can accomplish everything else that I need to get done. So right now, Thursday is a do-nothing day. Nothing planned for Friday but I will probably get my cat food shopping out of the way. Saturday being Christmas I am invited to my friend’s house but don’t know what time dinner is or what is being served. I probably won’t like it but being around other people will be nice, I suppose. Sunday will be the usual breakfast and grocery store runs, so that I can get back to all of the fun on Monday. I haven’t been watching my email and that will be fun to plow through.

I’ve got a few orders placed in the last couple days with Amazon. I broke down and ordered the 3^rd generation Apple ear buds. They were at an all-time low price and I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve already sent the money to pay for them so I won’t have a bill hanging over my head. They won’t arrive until towards the end of the year. Tomorrow I have a new security camera coming. This was a must since going back to the office, I need to be able to check up on my girl. My old one has a security flaw and I really don’t want to put it back on-line. Wednesday I will be getting a new mouse pad for the office, my old one is beyond cleanable and has all sorts of crumbs it’s a mess. I recently discovered that Amazon Pharmacy is available in my state. I took a look at what my sleeping medicine will cost, without insurance and it’s $5 for 30 days when I am paying $12.99 now for 30 days. I take a couple pills but they are in the same drug class and the insurance company will only cover 1 of the 2 drugs, so I have to pay cash for 1 of them. When I go back to the doctor next month, I will be telling him to send a prescription to Amazon for a 90-day supply. I am also going to have him transfer my Sudafed prescription to a different pharmacy. Walgreens wants to play games and limit my supply. I hate being on a merry go round where each month I have to hit up the pharmacy. It’s needless aggravation. Walgreens is fine if I am sick or need something in a pinch but otherwise, they have become a huge pain in my ass and not in a good way.

I haven’t been wearing my regular prescription lens that I need to wear. I have been using computer glasses when I am in front of the computer. I just put on my regular glasses tonight to try to start getting used to them and wow it sure is a change. Better to train my eyes now than have to jump into this all at once. I can actually see well enough to drive without them but better safe than sorry. I also need to setup an eye appointment with a new doc to see what’s what. I haven’t had any real noticeable changes but ever since my last eye appointment that guy has me wondering if there isn’t more going on with my eyes than I realize. You only get 2 of them and once they are damaged you are screwed and not in a good way. I want to preserve them and keep them in good working order so I can continue to enjoy looking at hot guys and good food!

I do hope all is well in your neck of the woods and that life is treating you fairly. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the holidays!

General Rambling

I have four more days (Monday thru Thursday) to get through and then my vacation starts. Unfortunately, I have to keep up with the stupid report that I run in the morning. It’s a two-person job so I will have a phone call with a colleague. We chat about everything and can easily talk for an hour or more about anything other than work. It’s kind of a challenge when one of us has the day off to try to stick to just the work stuff and then end the call.

While I am eager to start, I know that it will all be over in the blink of an eye and then it will be back to reality. When I go back on the 27^th I don’t expect it to be that busy. I am ramping up for people leaving at the end of the year and the promotions. Being hourly I really looked forward to this time because it was a good way to make some extra money. Now that I am salaried, I am just a work horse and don’t get any extra pay for my efforts. Going into the new year it will also mean that I will be physically back in the office (most likely) and I am thinking about making a trip over to clean off my desk, hang new calendars and in general get things in order so I have a smooth transition. Plus walk around a bit to see what has changed. We have a ton of new faces and that is always fun trying to figure out what name goes with what person.

Nothing much in general going on today. I got up early, had breakfast out and then hit up the grocery store. Came home, unloaded everything and passed out with Gator. My stupid phone kept chirping with either news alerts or I would get an email from work. I hate being on call because it seems like when you want to relax that is when the phone starts up. Sort of like trying to squeeze in a nap during the workday. It matters not that it’s your lunch the phone does its job in pestering me. If it’s not the phone then it’s Gator.

I had thought about going out last night for supper but my sugar dropped and I wound up staying home. I am thinking of going out tonight but I will probably wind up staying home again, kind of depends on my mood and the weather. Plus, if I really want to get dressed again.

The house cleaning portion of the day is done and I did the dishes on Friday night before the big storm hit. I was out of bowls between breakfast and the Spumoni I got I was constantly using a bowl. I filled up again so I suspect I will have a similar problem come this Friday.

I’ve got some menial tasks that I am putting off for taking care of while I am off but I probably won’t want to do them then either. Relaxing and watching TV with not a care in the world is just my favorite thing to do right now. Gator likes to curl up in my lap or close by and nod off. She can usually lull me into a slumber because it’s just so relaxing to hear her motor running and then to hear her snoring. Cats in general have always had the affect on me and when I had multiples it’s like they would gang up against me and we would all wind up having a sleeping competition.

Here’s hoping that it’s a good week ahead for all of us. Take care and be well.

Scary Night

Last night was very scary.  Lots of severe weather and a Tornado in my neck of the woods.  If the trajectory would have been slightly different my entire neighborhood would have been wiped out.  Thankfully we have no damage.  We did get some winds and rain but you can’t tell by walking outside how much danger we were actually in.  However, there are other people a short distance away, who aren’t as lucky and tragically there has been loss of life. 

I was watching Single All The Way on Netflix and got to about the last half hour of the movie.  The weather alert went off on my phone first and that sound grabs your attention (or at least mine).  I read the words tornado watch and tune to local media.  The movie was on pause and I switched over to local news.  The weather radio went off.  I opened up the police scanner app on my phone and tuned into the local police (there is a delay of 2 minutes, meaning what they say is broadcasted two minutes later).  I saw something headed for my area and then the sirens went off, then the weather alert went off on my phone and it said tornado warning.  I heard an officer a few minutes later say that he spotted a tornado.  I had grabbed my handheld police scanner and turned it on (thank goodness the batteries were freshly charged).  I heard another officer from a different department that was in the next town over report a tornado.  Then the reports of all of the devastation started to roll in. 

I knew that I should have been in my basement with Gator but we were sitting in the living room as all of this unfolded.  She knew something was wrong with me but not exactly what it was.  I was scared.  Being a former trained weather spotter I know that when you get warnings you should act because after that it is usually too late.  My late spouse never was one to run to the basement, he too was a trained weather spotter and wanted to run outside and see what was going on.  That is kind of why I didn’t move.  Plus nothing usually happens despite the fact that we are in an area well known for tornados we usually get straight line winds. 

I kept hearing radio traffic but it took a long time before the local media started broadcasting because we had a couple waves of this rolling in and the weather folks were very busy trying to do their jobs.  I flipped between channels constantly throughout this because one would start talking about my area and then they would start talking about another place.  I was only concerned with my area, which I think is most common for folks.

The power flickered a bit during all of this and I thought for sure we would lose power, which would suck because then it’s flashlights, the police scanner and my cell phone.  Thankfully the power stayed in tact to allow me to continue watching the TV.  

The urge to pray came over me and I did just that.  This has been a trying 2 years for all of us with COVID.  For this to happen so close to Christmas is sad.  This is not something that we ever needed.  It does show you how people come together in trying times though. 

It was well after midnight before I went to bed and Gator was quite upset with me.  I needed to know that all of the severe weather was out of the area because the last thing I wanted it to get comfortable only to have to climb out of bed.  Not to mention my nerves were shot. 

I did feel all alone.  I thought for sure when the damage reports started being broadcast that my friends would reach out to me, but nope not a text or a phone call.  Just makes me feel like they really don’t think of me as a friend, unless there is a holiday and they want company.  I thought about sending a text saying, thanks for checking on me and Gator.  Were fine and so is the house.  But I figured that would just cause issues so I let it go. 

I did get out today and drove around to look at the damage and it’s heart breaking.  You don’t normally think of severe weather this time of year but it can happen.  Especially when the temperature swings rapidly high and then rapidly low over the course of a couple days. 

Considering that my neighborhood is untouched and I still have my Gator, I am beyond thankful that we were spared.  Hopefully, the remainder of the year will play out and be uneventful and oddly calm.  Lord knows we could all use some calm. 

I hope that you are safe, well and you don’t know anyone that was affected by this horrific event.  Cheers! 

 

Oh Charlie

I had an interesting find on Netflix.  A series dedicated to Colton Underwood and his coming out.  He wasn’t someone that I was interested in before this.  The series did a good job of covering the many struggles with coming out.  He also tries on a leather harness and damn, he looks hot.  Chest hair doesn’t turn me on but man he just looks so good.  If you have Netflix check it out it is worth your time. 

I picked up a massage gun from Amazon it was delivered on Thursday and sadly it was defective.  I got it to work one time and I think was a fluke.  It was perfect because it articulated so that you could get spots on your back without needing a second person.  I returned it and got a replacement on Friday but purchased a different model that doesn’t articulate.  It works really well and the battery lasts for hours. 

On the COVID front the state where my job is located has the Omicron variant of COVID.  A couple of the other states that have it are states where we also have offices located.  It’s business as usual at the moment and nothing has changed, were full steam ahead.  I am happier that I have been working from home and am going to game the system until I either have to go back because I was discovered OR we get to next year and I no longer have a choice. 

I knew about the school shooting that took place earlier this week in MI.  I watched the arrangement of the parents and thought it was rather interesting that the state is holding the parents accountable.  I think they are well within their rights because the parents had the power to stop this from happening by opening their mouths and by not purchasing a gun for their son.  This was a horrible tragedy that could have been prevented.  I really hope that this is the last school shooting but sadly I don’t think it will be.  Kids are innocent and to rob them of that is a huge violation in my book.  Probably because I was robbed of that innocence myself.  I’m not looking to debate gun control or this situation – simply stating my opinion. 

As you may or may not know I am huge fan of Charlie Puth.  He celebrated his 30th birthday this week.  He posted a photo of him in his underwear with that looks like an erection.  He has indicated more and more that he is sexually frustrated.  It is certainly showing and I think he is going to get himself into some hot water if he isn’t careful.  Today he released a tweet about the winter air and had a has tag about jerking him off.  Look there are no shortage of people who would love that honor.  I’d love to have him as my boyfriend but he’s straight but I do wonder about that a bit.  He is under some stress because there is a single called Light Switch that people are clamoring for.  He says it’s going to be released soon but that has been his position for a while.  He also said that he has an album coming out and people really want that as well.  The album should be released in the month of January 2022.  I like him for his music and his voice, he is very talented and this all started for me with his single See You Again.  That song speaks volumes to me.  It was a few years later that he started to appeal to me sexually and now I feel that he is just teasing people because he is horny.  There is alleged video of him jerking off both in bed and on an airplane on the internet.  There is also some videos that show him in gay porn but I don’t think any of this is authentic.  He has released photos of his ass and that is well worth looking up.  He’s got some great cakes!

  This is the photo I am talking about.  Thirst trap at the very least. 

I visited the Farm store for cat food and they too have a supply chain issue.  Not sure where all of the cat food is but I will sure be glad when it gets back on store shelves.  I can only hope that is within Gator’s lifetime.  At least I am able to get a couple of flavors that she really likes just no fish and shrimp. 

Drove for pizza and the hot waiter took care of me.  He looked hot as usual and I really wanted to make a pass at him but resisted.  If he’s not into it that could ruin me going there for pizza, which isn’t something that I want.  He was nice enough and took decent care of me.  He made some small talk but I think he was being nice.  Hey maybe he likes me as well but neither of us will know until one of us asks the other. 

My mystery odor has surfaced again.  It was really in my bedroom and made it a challenge to sleep.  I got some candles this morning from Cracker Barrel that helped.  I also ran my O3 machine and opened the windows.  The bedroom is fine but the kitchen is the new target.  I purchased some air freshener gel that is made to go in the airduct of the furnace.  It will be here on Tuesday and I hope that will fix things.  It’s good for 90 days.  The temperature change seems to bring this about.  I will be glad when mother nature makes up her mind and we can just have winter, things will normalize more.  I will probably have to face this again in the spring.  I think that I need a good air duct cleaning, a new furnace and to fully professionally remediate (as in rip out and replace) the wood that was affected with mold.  I’ve only treated one side of it and while the water problem is fixed the wood is still infected and needs to be replaced. Then I think this place wouldn’t have any odor issues or so I hope. 

I will be back on call come Monday.  I have one more time left after this and that will happen when I come back from vacation.  One more week here, then next week I work 4 days and my vacation will start.  Then when I come back my boss will be gone on vacation and we will deal with end of year.  It’s getting busy but I kind of enjoy some of it.  Busy means the days go by faster and I am for sure a fan of that. 

I am still using my mouth guard and it seems to help.  My teeth are a bit sore for a minute after I take it off but otherwise all is well.  Looking forward to enjoying the rest of the evening, it’s been a productive and busy day.  Some final R&R is nice.  Getting a shower before climbing into a nice freshly made bed.  I should sleep really well tonight. 

Hope all is well on your end.  Sweet dreams!

Friday Eve

Howdy … here we are at another Friday eve.  One more day and the week is over, I am so thankful for that.  This week has been quick moving.  If the rest of the remaining weeks fly by as fast as this one has this year will be over in the blink of an eye. 

I ordered a percussion massage gun it is a knock off brand and not one of the major players.  It looked like a good buy but instead I am saying good bye to it.  The damn thing doesn’t work.  I charged it and managed to get it working once.  I tried a second time and no matter what I do the damn thing will not work.  I need to print a shipping label and then get over to the UPS store. 

I got an email today that my new pen shipped and I am eager to get it.  That will be a couple days, probably next week considering the slow down at the post office and the fact there is holiday mail.  If it arrives on Saturday, I will consider myself very lucky. 

I plan to go to the farm store on Saturday to see if they have Gator’s favorite flavors of cat food.  This is my last hope.  I am not eager to get there because it’s not in the best part of town and it’s a lot like going to Wal-Mart.  If they have what she likes then it will be worth it because there is no price I can put on her happiness.  I enjoy seeing her happy.  Right now she is turning up her nose at what I put out or eating very little of it.  I want to fix that and see her lick her chops knowing that she enjoyed what I gave her. 

Made it to the dentist and they did some different x-rays to show a bit more detail and couldn’t find anything wrong with my mouth.  I kind of expected that.  We chatted about the mouth guard and I was told if it’s helping continue to use it and they can make one that fits better and is a bit more durable.  Who knows if my insurance will cover it, I suspect they will but that is a road I am not traveling on right now. 

Everyone seems to be sick.  My co-worker has something again and called off one day.  My boss has something.  Is it any wonder why I want to stay home.  Germs they are everywhere.  Needless to say I am going to try to continue to milk my current situation as long as I can, might as well.  I have thought about going in on a weekend just to grab a couple things from my office that I know are waiting on me and make it look like I have been in since the pandemic.  Then I think, I’ll get there eventually and nothing that is waiting for me is going to get up and leave, unless someone steals it.  Unless I give in I don’t see myself in the office until 2022 and that will probably be mid-January at that. 

Yesterday I was super horny and decided to revisit an old past time.  I wrote a couple of erotic stories.  They are hot and I am thinking of more.  Not sure if I will publish them.  I am considering it but not sure if I want to travel that road again.  Last time I did I lost my blog, my followers and that’s why I had to start this blog.  That was a different time but once bitten, twice shy.  If I get any interest and decide to move forward I will let you know.  Not exactly certain that appeals to everyone.  Oddly enough that was my first piece of porn.  I sent away in the mail for a book that I thought would have naked men in it and it was all stories, I was not happy when I figured that out but then I started reading and well let’s just say I got really good at reading a book one handed.  I am kicking around an idea for a couple more stories now and just had to get on the computer.  I am fighting against it but I think I will eventually give in.  It’s like looking at some good food and knowing that it will make you fat – eventually you throw caution to the wind and chow down. 

I am eager for my week of vacation but it is still a few weeks away and I know it will go by super fast.  However, being lazy, watching TV and doing whatever I want is of great appeal to me.  I am still very much in Thanksgiving mode and it’s a struggle to get out of bed and teleport myself to work, despite the fact that I don’t have to leave home.

I am caught up in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime and it’s oddly entertaining.  Like every other series it started with watching one episode and I was hooked.  I take in a couple hours of it each night and then struggle with You Tube videos until I eventually fall asleep. 

We had some summer like weather here today, it was in the 70’s and I was starting to roast.  Gator loved it.  I thought about turning on the AC but opted not to.  Once the sun goes down things really cool off.  It won’t be terribly long now and we will get much colder weather and eventually snow.  Right now I am enjoying what is being served even if it is mildly uncomfortable to me.  It’s great watching my gal just lounging in her bed and basking in the sun.  She sleeps for hours on end, usually from about 2 until 5 in the afternoon when the sun beams in the window as it is preparing to set for the day.  She hates to see the sun go away but is happy the next day when it’s back.  I do wonder what she thinks.  I know that she loves to be around me. 

That’s enough babbling for now.  Hope that your well and thanks for stopping by.  Talk with you all again soon. 

Countdown to Christmas

 

Made it through Thanksgiving.  All went well and I had my fair share of food.  I have left over Turkey & Ham.  I got what little bit of the stuffing was left and the sweet potatoes.  Plus my friends didn’t invite their neighbor this year, so it was just the 3 of us.  I was very happy when I figured that out.  Their neighbor is nice but he gets on my nerves.  He will however be there for Christmas. 

I have watched way too many movies between On Demand and the streaming services that made for a wide variety of content.  Gator has spent a lot of time in my lap sleeping and she too has ate her fair share of food.  I need to get her some fluids, which I never look forward to. 

I am having some second thoughts on going back to the office this week.  While a small part of me wants to I really would rather stay home since there is a new variant of COVID that has been discovered.

I can’t believe that there is only thirtysomething days left in the year.  I’ve got 4 weeks total (including this week) left to work.  I have a week of vacation towards the end of December.  December is a busy month at work with people retiring, leaving and then the promotions. 

I gave in and spent some money on myself, which I kind of knew I would.  I got yet another pen ordered, placed another Amazon order, bought a train calendar (that’s for the office, I know I will be going back next year for sure.  Unless this new variant squash’s that.), a shirt and of course some porn because how can the holidays be complete without naked men having sex?

Speaking of porn, there is a series on Amazon Prime Video about Helix Studios.  There is some inside scoop which is in the first seasons.  The second season is a lot of their content edited without the sex, but you get the idea.  I call it softcore porn.  Just in case you are interested.  I got to see a little bit more of Alex Riley, who passed away earlier this year.  He was such a hot looking young man and he could dance as well. 

Tomorrow is back to the bullshit and I am sure it will be a busy day.  On call has been quiet and hopefully I can make it through my last night without getting interrupted. 

I will be seeing the Dentist tomorrow, so I will have some what of an escape from work.  The best part about it is when I am in the office I don’t even bother to take my phone in.  There is no way to reach me for about an hour and that is perfectly fine with me.  Kind of similar to flying but not exactly the same experience.  I’ve had some tension in my jaw, like it wanted to grind and I wondered if that is why I have had some teeth bothering me.  I got a mouth guard yesterday and slept with it last night.  That is sure a different experience but I actually feel better today.  I think it’s all tension from my back working it’s way up into my neck and jaw.  I’ve got massagers here but I ordered a massage gun (since they are all the rage) to see if that might give me some relief.  I don’t use the massagers that often because they are big and bulky plus the cord limits my movements.  Amazon won’t be bringing that until Thursday. 

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and enjoyed time away from work.  Now it’s countdown to Christmas and then the End of the Year!  Where exactly did this year go?  It all feels very much like a blur to me – one day I woke up and it was cold, then another it got warm and now it’s cold again. 

Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving

Food Poision

Saturday, I laid around for a good portion of the day. Watched some TV from bed napped and hung out with my furry girl. I got up and decided that I should probably eat something considering it was 2p and I hadn’t had a bite of food nor any pills yet. I made a foolish choice and had a few Strawberries which I had gotten the week prior at the grocery store. They were washed and cut by the store and then packaged and refrigerated. I kept them refrigerated and enjoyed some of them earlier in the week. I got dressed and left the house. I opted to grab a bite to eat from a local BBQ place and instead of my usual Turkey I got Pork & Brisket. It was really good. I paid my bill and left headed back towards home. I still needed to pick up the mail and get cat food. However, I began not feeling well and unfortunately didn’t make it back home before I had a personal accident.

Once home I got undressed and showered. Then laundry and finally cleaning up the vehicle. Then it was off to bed. I didn’t care about much else. Then before I knew it the trips to and from the bathroom started. I took something to settle my stomach but it takes multiple doses before it kicks in. Eventually the storm subsided and I was able to get some sleep.

Sunday, I woke up and really didn’t want to eat but I had 2 bowls of oatmeal, it was really good and the only decent thing I had in the house. I returned to bed, cranked up the electric blanket and passed back out. It was late morning before I got going and made it to the grocery store. I felt like a zombie running mostly on auto pilot. I had enough sense to grab sprite and gator aide, along with a few more things including cat food. I felt pretty good but once I pulled in the driveway the to and from the bathroom trips returned. I got over that, had some more medicine as I sort of wished I was dead.

Gator had filled her litter box full and had gone on the floor once. She has never ever done that. It was clearly my fault and once I took care of her litter box, she was very happy and jumped in and used it right away.

I do believe that I had a minor case of food poisoning. Not something you want anytime particularly the weekend before Thanksgiving. I was starting to wonder how I would manage to make it through work on Monday and what would happen as we got closer to Thursday.

Monday was a rough day but by the time the afternoon got here I was in pretty good shape. I made it through the work day. It was stone cold dead at work and yes, I was working from home. One of the times I was truly thankful for that benefit. I had a Chicken Pot Pie for supper and it was really good. As the day turned to night my sexual appetite returned, which was also a welcome sign.

Slept pretty good overnight until 2a when Gator needed food and I needed to be rescued from a nightmare. Then it was back to bed until 6a. My body is starting to wake up at that time because mentally I am trying to prepare for my eventual return to the physical office. I need to be up at 6a and starting my routine, out the door by 7a and then I a good. I think that will start up in December but I am kind of wanting to play the system and keep on doing what I have until next year hits. However, waiting will make it even harder so might as well get it over with.

I do believe I have recovered from this horrible food incident and it will be a long time before I purchase fresh fruit from the grocery store. This could have been way worse and I am thankful that it was minor and more so that it’s behind me, no pun intended.

Were sitting at Tuesday. It’s been a little busy this morning but now that were towards the latter half of the day it’s just dead quiet. I am all about that since I am the one who is on-call this week. I still plan to go to my friend’s house for Turkey Day. I really don’t want to but I will be on guard and not all that talkative. I meant to pick up some soda for this gathering because at the 11^th hour I will probably get a text message asking me to stop for soda. Well, I will just bring a few cans of what I have if that happens. No word on when dinner time is but I know when the food is being picked up so I will plan accordingly presuming that they will want to eat as soon as they get home, unless I hear otherwise.

As for my furry friend she has been extra attentive the last few days and knew that something was wrong. I am looking forward to spending some extra time with her over this long holiday weekend. I wish that I could get my hands on the flavors of food that I know she really enjoys but this damn supply chain issue is messing with everything.

I’ve done some holiday shopping for me on Amazon. I have a few more orders to place with other merchants but I am not exactly in a big hurry. I do have my eye on a couple of pens and am thinking of getting one of them, but I know I really don’t need it. I could use a better body that was more in shape but you can’t order that, you have to work for that and I don’t like working.

Hope all is well in your world. Talk with you again soon.

Happy Friday Eve

Is this thing on? Just curious if there is still anyone out there reading my blathering.

Yesterday I got quite the scare from Ms. Gator. I had been working away in the basement all morning long. Normally she makes a bunch of noise in protest to get me back upstairs. Yesterday she was very quiet, too quiet in fact. I came upstairs to get a bite to eat and to begin working from the couch. I found her in my room in her bed. She wasn’t moving that I could see and was laying in an awkward position. I got out a flashlight to take a closer look and it looked like she had passed. I said her name and nothing happened. I went to lean down and was going to touch her and then she sprang to life and started screaming at me for waking her up. She was in a very deep sleep. I was startled but very happy. I left her and she calmed down and went back to sleep for a bit. By the time I finished my lunch and started up my laptop she was coming out asking for food. I took care of her and then she spent the afternoon by my side on the couch. I don’t know if it’s an omen but her mom started this deep sleeping routine a couple years before she eventually passed. She got some extra special attention yesterday and I got reminded once again that life is temporary and she is going to leave me eventually. I need a plan on how to move on after she passes and sadly that isn’t something that I can make until I am in the moment. I really don’t want to go on but my mind may change when the time comes.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the results of my colo-guard test and finally they arrived yesterday. I was never so happy to see the word negative. I’m good for 3 years and then we get to do it all over again or I can undergo a colonoscopy. I’d like the colonoscopy but it’s not fun to prep for and then you have to find someone to drive you to and from. It’s the gold standard but thanks to Colo-Guard it’s the next best thing and it’s super simple.

As for my job I have been continuing to work from home. I got a call from my boss yesterday and feel that were going to have “the talk”. I am sure he will want me to go in this month, if only for 1 day but I am pretty hell bent on not going back until December. We got news earlier this week that after the MLK holiday we will be required to be in the office 3 days per week with Tuesday & Wednesday’s being mandatory days. It’s no surprise but COVID cases are once again on the rise in my neck of the woods. Health officials are predicting an even bigger rise for the Winter season. I am sure my doctor is probably tired of me but I will be asking again when I see him in Jan. if 3 days is safe and what I need to watch for as in when it’s time to revisit working from home full time. When the news broke about the 3 day return people absolutely lost their minds. This is and was not a surprise to me as the plan was announced months ago but they never gave any details as to when we would get to the 3-day portion. It's a unified industry response that “we work better when we can collaborate together and it’s time to get back to the office”. That is pure bullshit, we have had 2 record earning years and never done better but yet we still need to return to the office as if that will somehow make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  Still there is a lot of uneasy people and there is very much a turnover tsunami in the industry right now. People are quitting because they just don’t want to go back. I get it, we all got a taste of the good life, which is something that our employers never ever planned to give us but instead they were forced to. Now they are trying to figure out how to put the toothpaste back in the tube and resume a normal life pre-pandemic. Lots of people are saying the pandemic is over or referring to it as post pandemic. The pandemic is far from over, the worst of it hopefully has passed but it’s still very much alive and probably will be for a couple more years.

Based on the whole way the process went for me to try to get permission to continue working from home, I too would like to quit in protest. It’s a rash move and it would certain be devastating to both me and my employer. However, it’s not a smart move to make. I am looking and while there are a lot of jobs, a lot of them indicate no remote work. The biggest problem I have is compensation and vacation time. I am hard pressed to find anyone that will match the money, I can certainly forego some time off. I’m also looking for something closer to home and that too is a barrier as most of the higher paying jobs are in a bordering state. Right now, there isn’t anyone making any waves and I really think it won’t make much of a difference for the remainder of the year if I kept doing what I am doing today. However, come next year I do think that I will be held much more to the expectation of the 3 days in office schedule. Might as well ease back into it now so that I am fully prepared come next year when the expectation will be greater. It’s me helping myself. There really is no difference in productivity regardless of where I am at. I still get interrupted just not nearly as much as when I am at home. Not to mention it’s much safer here than going in. However, I am told that I am safer in the office than if I was to hang out at my local grocery store all day. That may be true but who the hell wants to spend there entire day at the grocery store, unless you work there?

My lawn guy showed up out of the blue yesterday, it was very much a surprise to me since we have had our first frost and I figured he wouldn’t be back. I am sending him his last check for the year and a note that politely says I am done for this year, please come back next year. I am still waiting on the landscaper guy and even though he told me I was on his list I am wondering if that will even happen this year. The money is set aside so I won’t spend it unless something dire comes about and I absolutely need it. I don’t expect that will happen. That is the best thing about the pandemic, I got the chance to build a nice small cushion of money for emergencies or if I get a whim and want something.

I am listening to my boss jabber in a meeting where he is putting together some documentation. It’s not like I need to be there but it’s one of many needless meetings that we have all the time. We meet more than any other team in our organization and that is a little bit aggravating to me, especially when I have a mountain of work and a deadline looming. That isn’t the case at the moment but it does happen.

After this I am ready for a nap but there is a difficult call that I have coming this afternoon with a problem end user and not something I look forward to. I’ll be much happier when this day is done! Perhaps slightly happier once I have some lunch and see my furry girl.

Hope all is well. Let me know how things are in your neck of the woods.

Cold Outside

  When I did a search for cold outside I saw this photo and had to use it.  It’s so cute!  While we don’t yet have snow outside it can’t be that far off.  It rained overnight and I found that out as I ventured out of the garage and the water dripped on to my hood and windshield.  I made my way to Cracker Barrel quite early, 8a which is a strange time to be out and about on a Sunday morning.  However, the advantage was that I got to park in front of the restaurant instead of having to make a small hike.  The hike would be to my advantage but on a cold day I am all about being lazy.  I ordered the Country Fried breakfast with Country Fried Steak.  It was good especially on a morning like this one.  Service sucked and the soda mixture was off but the food was good. 

Onto the grocery store where I got another good parking spot.  Everyone was either in church or still in bed.  I got a nice bundle of freshly cut strawberries which I will most likely eat right out of the box but I also have some vanilla ice cream that they would pair well with.  Got some water for the Gator and sadly they didn’t have the flavor of food that she likes but I did pick up a few cans of stuff I know she will eat.  This whole supply chain issue is horrible and it as well as this pandemic can’t be over fast enough for me.

My next stop was the gas station.  I like to keep a full tank especially when it gets colder.  You never know when something will go wrong and you will be stuck in traffic.  I would rather have gas to burn than not.  Finally I made it home and bellowed out as I walked in the door. 

My little ball of fur was sleeping in my room and that woke her up because she meowed back at me a few moments later.  I got her to come into the kitchen and gave her some food as I put the groceries away. 

Finally after that was done it was time to get more comfortable and relax in my chair.  Gator came to join me and we both eventually passed out for a bit.  I was up by noon and then started in on the fun tasks.  I had medicine to put out for me.  Grabbed a quick snack and then came down to play with my money and by that I mean figure out how much to stick into savings.  I also figured out what would bring me square with the lawn mowing guy, even though I haven’t gotten a second bill.  I paid him and I am sure that will cause all sorts of confusion.  I don’t know why but lawn mowing people and accounting don’t mix, especially when you try to pay them early.  I just don’t like to have a bill looming over my head and wondering when it will hit.  Besides that they have the first check and still haven’t cashed it. 

Then it was time to place an Amazon order which I have been putting off.  I got my 2022 naked men calendars.  In case your wondering what I bought I chose Buckshot Boys, Cocky Boys – Summer Boys and The Men of Falcon.  I also got a new shower head that I have had my eye on for a long time.  It was down in price from when I originally added it to my shopping list.  I threw in a few other things that I wanted and needed like furnace filters and ibuprofen.  Just like I remarked to the cashier at the grocery store, it doesn’t take long to spend money. 

I renewed a maintenance agreement I have for some software, it’s cheaper than buying the new version when it comes out and this way I get it for much less along with regular updates.  I renewed a subscription to an uninstaller that I like, this type of program removes programs from your computer plus all of the junk they leave behind.  If your interested I use Revo Uninstaller.  They have been around for a long time and make a good product in my opinion.  Renewal was at a discount so it made sense. 

That’s it I am done with spending money for the day or so I think.  I just typed those words and then got a reminder that I need to pay my doctor my co-pay, they don’t take it at the time of the visit because the way my insurance is setup in their system it looks like I don’t have a co-pay.  After I pay him, then I am done with spending money today or so I think.  I need to bring the laundry upstairs and get it put away.  I’m bringing some long sleeve shirts as well considering that I will be going back to the office might as well be comfortable.  If I was staying at home I would just stick with my short sleeves.  I’m not a fan of long sleeves but on a really cold day I am thankful that I switched.  Also need to vacuum and get the trash out.  Then for the task I hate the most is hydrating the Gator.  We skipped last week, her hydration was superb.  I don’t feel that she is dehydrated now but the idea behind this was to help her kidneys since the prednisone she is on is aggravating them. Her food intake is a bit out of control but it’s manageable and not nearly to the level it was earlier this year where every 10 to 15 minutes she was asking for food.  She still tries to inhale water and since she can’t that makes her mad and she argues with the water.  It’s quite the site to see.  Happy that we have made it this far and I am hopeful that she will continue to age gracefully and be with me for a while. 

I’ve still got to run my silly report for work.  Tomorrow as well as this entire week won’t be fun but I will make it through somehow.  This was going to be the week that I took vacation but I permitted a colleague to take it instead because I am such a nice guy.  Being nice doesn’t get me very far but occasionally it does work to my benefit.

Here is hoping that you are warm and well.  Best wishes for a great week ahead.  Talk with you all again soon. 

Hot Waiter & Pizza

It has been another lazy Saturday around here.  I was able to sleep in a bit.  Nap with Gator and watch some TV.  Gator got fed on the couch last night and again this morning.  She really likes that and asks for it frequently.  I think I created a monster by making one gesture of good will since I knew when I started this that she didn’t feel good one day and now it’s becoming a habit.  I finally jumped in the shower around 1p and then waited until 2:30p to get moving.  I hit up the post office for my box of bills and some medication, then on to the empty shelves at the cat food store.  I was able to buy a few cans but still none of Gator’s true favorites were in stock, which is beyond disappointing. Then on for pizza. 

I timed my visit just right at the pizza place.  The cute waiter I like walked in and that made the trip worth while.  Then he smiled and waived at me which made my visit extra special.  What was horrible is that I was sat under a vent that blew air that went from slightly warm to cold.  My waitress was off in la la land and I didn’t get the service I deserved.  It took forever to cash out but eventually I was able to get back on the road.  I just watched my waiter, who is also the manager bounce around and that was fun.  I didn’t like having the air blown on me and next time I’m offered that table I am asking for something else. 

Now I am home again, working on laundry and catching up on some computer stuff.  I still have to run my stupid report at work.  There is also a minor storm brewing and it looked like I was going to need to jump in and help out but thankfully that hasn’t happened yet.  It still may tomorrow but more than likely it will wait until Monday.  I am kind of reluctant to help with anything after this whole WFH request ordeal and being denied.  There is a meeting next week and look to be in January we are going to 3 days in the office – Tuesday & Wednesday will be mandatory days and your manager will schedule the other day with you.  I just hope that there mandatory in office thing doesn’t happen before my next doctors visit.  I know I am cleared for 2 days per week and my guess says that he won’t mind for 1 more day but hell who knows.  Plus who knows what the infection rate will be come January.  News reports make it sound like things could trend back upwards but that is very much a wait n see event. 

For the last few weeks my teeth have been bothering me.  It’s not constant pain but it is irritating.  I am not due to see the dentist until the Monday after Thanksgiving so I am trying to hold out.  I’ve now also got some shoulder pain.  I was remarking to a co-worker yesterday perhaps I am having a heart attack and don’t know it.  I’m sure the shoulder pain is due to lack of activity and the position I sit in when I am next to Gator. 

My latest TV series that I am binge watching is called All American.  It’s about a Football team, gangs, guys, girls and high school.  There are some really hot guys in the show.  This was a series that aired on The CW.  There are 3 seasons but I do believe the show is no longer in production. 

I’ve got 2 slices of the Chocolate Pecan Pie I picked up last week at Cracker Barrel.  I will be hitting that place up for breakfast in the morning and then on to the grocery store and to gas up the vehicle.  I am going to try to sit this week out and continue working from home, I think I can pull it off but nothing is for certain.  The following week is Thanksgiving and I am for sure I will be able to work all 3 days from home.  Then when we go back work the last 2 days of the month at home and ease back to the office in December.  It’s not exactly what I want but I know I need to go back.  Psychologically it will help me, I will get back in to my routine and that too will be healthy.  I will be walking more so that can only lead to weight loss.  I won’t be next to the fridge all day long so there are more positives than negatives.  However, it still seems stupid to return to a physical office when I can do everything I need to from here.  Save on gas, wear & tear on the vehicle, be able to sleep in and even get naps when I need them.  Plus I start work earlier when I work from home and stay later.  It is a positive thing for both me and my employer.  Ah well.  There are record numbers of people quitting their jobs and I really would like to quit mine but that would just mean starting over some place else.  I’d give up a lot and in the end I don’t think it would be a smart move.  However, if the right opportunity comes along I will jump at it. 

On to run my stupid report for work and then to be with my Gator.  Earlier this week when I took a sick day, she crawled under the covers and slept at my feet for a short period of time.  That was out of the ordinary normally if a human is in a bed she won’t dare go under the covers but I guess she was cold and I know that she hates being cold.  Sadly we are in Winter.  I mean I know it’s fall but the way things work around here one day it’s Fall and then soon after you get Winter temps.  The same things happens with Spring & Summer.  There is no gentle progression for the change of seasons like there was when I was a kid, it’s all rapid fire change now. 

I hope that your having a good weekend and staying warm.  Talk with you peeps later. 

Where we are

I haven’t felt the best so I took a couple days off work.  Back tomorrow.  I’ve peeked at my inbox and the 130 messages that are waiting for my attention.  All hell seems to break loose while I am away and that is one reason why I don’t like taking time.

As for going back I plan to try to limp along for the rest of the month at home and then in December go back.  We got an invite to a staff meeting and it is noted that we will be going to a 3 day a week schedule in the office next year, just not sure as to what date.  I will be talking with my doc as I get more details but I suspect that I am in the thick of this and I don’t really have a chance to fight it, go along or look for another job. 

I have looked to see what is out there and there are a couple of things that appeal to me but they don’t pay nearly what I need to survive.  I don’t have it that bad it just sucks that I need to go back to a physical office but then again I don’t want to work from home forever.  I will be changing my ways and not killing myself for my job – this whole ordeal has put things into focus for me.  

It’s cold here and the leaves have fallen.  We haven’t seen any snow yet but I think that might be on the way.  No real plans for the weekend, thinking of getting pizza to see my favorite hot waiter.  Other than that the usual running. 

Hope all is well in your world and that you are staying warm.  Talk again soon.

Worry Weekend

Being unable to sleep Friday night into early Saturday morning I watched some TV with the hopes that eventually I would drift off.  Eventually that worked but you’ll never guess what big mouth woke me up.  Yup, Gator.  I had to kick her out of my room in order to get some sleep.  She came to investigate when I flipped the TV back on and we spent time together but once I turned the lights out she wanted to get chatty, wrong time. 

My mind has been racing about this whole back to the office BS.  While I don’t think I have much chance of having a case I can talk it over with someone from the EEOC if I wish.  They will provide guidance and if there is something there they will help draft a complaint.  I also have the option to go to the head of our HR and see if that person will come to my aid.  While I am not a fan of HR, I took a lot of time to lay out the facts and I have drafted a three page letter that explains my POV and what has transpired.  It does a good job of partially throwing my boss and his boss under the bus, but I stick to the facts.  I’ve gone over it twice and after this will be the third and final time.  I’m going to read it to someone to see what they think.  My plan is to wait and see what my boss says if anything.  If he brings it up and wants me to go back then I will send the note to the head of HR.  If he says nothing then I don’t plan on doing anything other than what I have been doing in continuing to work from home.  At the end of the day no one is really being harmed here it’s just me defying a mandate which is actionable by disciplinary action, which is something I want to avoid.  I am not the type of person who gets in trouble at work.  I don’t think for a second I am above the law.  I do think that my employer is being inflexible and difficult.  At the end of the day if I have to go in then that is what I will do.  It’s not the worst thing in the world but I am not 100% comfortable with it.  I would really like to resign but that would be chopping off my nose despite my face.  I am pissed beyond belief because my boss led me down this primrose path that everything would be okay and it is far from that.  I am fucking sick of being lied to on a regular basis. 

I have some worry that by sending a note to the head of HR they will interpret it as an ultimatum, which it is not.  That they will just dismiss it and move on.  The final fear is that they will decide that this is too big a bump in the road and that we need to part ways.  My employment is in an at will state, which means that either party can terminate the employment relationship with or without notice.  It’s like walking on a tight rope 10 thousand feet up.  If you can keep your balance and you don’t make waves then chances are really good that you will be okay.  If you make waves then there is a possibility that you will fall.  The last thing that I want is to place myself in harms way and be back in the job market.  That would probably be the straw that broke the camels back and I would give further consideration to checking out.  My employer isn’t known for just throwing people in the street but I have seen it happen before to someone who complained on a constant basis.  I’m not an official complainer, where I bitch about every little thing.  I voice concerns to my manager who usually quashes them. 

If there is a case with the EEOC and I would file a complaint, the law prohibits retaliation.  That is my saving grace.  I think I may also have them on a HIPPA violation and the law there also prohibits retaliation.  I don’t want to make unnecessary waves because there are always creative ways they can end the employment relationship, but if you back me into a corner then I will be like a racoon with rabies and I will stop caring about everything and just fight for survival.  When I get into situations like these I just remind myself that I took on one of the most powerful unions in the US and I made them cave, it took time but I and I alone defeated them because I was right and they were wrong.  I’m more than capable to defending myself but at the end of the day I really want to just exist and have life be in some state of normal without fear, tension, etc. 

Saturday I got out to get a haircut since I really think I will have to go into the office.  Might as well look some what presentable, that’s also in our rules and regulations.  I hit up the new pasta place and this time tried the Fettuccini with Chicken.  It wasn’t the best meal I have ever eaten but desert was fantastic.  It was some chocolate liquor cake.  Service was a little slow.  Next thing to try is the steak, that is what they are famous for.  I am not a fan of a steak but if you make it right then I can eat it.  It was also nice to go for a drive.

Today I was up way too early, laid around and eventually went out for breakfast.  Cracker Barrel has this new Cinnamon Roll Pie.  I had a slice of that along with some eggs, hash brown casserole, grits and over cooked bacon.  My waitress made the meat choice and never asked me, I much prefer sausage.  Bacon is just not my jam.  I grabbed a whole Chocolate Pecan Pie and checked out.  Hit up the grocery store and spent way too much money.  They didn’t have Gator’s favorite food so she won’t be terribly happy with me but there isn’t much I can do about it. 

I washed my shower curtain and it was super dirty so I put it through the wash two times and that shredded it.  I had to venture back out to Target and get a new one.  What I had was clear heavy plastic and it served me well for many years.  I have gotten some super thin piece of plastic before and that lasted all of a month.  What I purchased at Target is a waterproof liner to function as a shower curtain.  They had medium weighted clear plastic but this liner was rated as heavy so that is why I got it.  Hopefully all will be well.  If not then I will be going back for plastic.  The hardware store I think sells what I want but you have to order it and wait – I can do that on Amazon. 

I mounted my lock box for an emergency key as well as the keypad for the garage.  Both have been down since I painted and I haven’t had the energy to put them back up.  They both mounted back with ease.  I will probably order more paint when we get in to spring and add to what is already there.  However, were good for winter and in much better shape that I was prior to painting. 

Time change weekend always makes the day seem so long in the fall/winter and so short in the spring/summer.  However, our bodies adjust.  I don’t know how soon Gator will adjust but it will take at least a few days for sure.  I’m washing my bed clothes and will be headed up soon to make the bed and then put out medicine.  Then it will be time to figure out what is for supper, feed the Gator and relax with some TV before it’s time to jump in the shower and then finally hit the bed.  I am putting on my weighted blanket as well as my electric blanket.  Were in the 30’s consistently at night and mornings are a bit chilly but I have such an aversion to heat that I wind up kicking the covers off when I am asleep, then I freeze, enough of that and I will get sick.  Oh no, that would mean I couldn’t go into the office, what a pity. 

Here’s hoping for a fast moving week and one that doesn’t have too many issues either for me to deal with on a personal or professional level.  Some calm would be really nice and welcome. 

Hope you had a great weekend.  Talk with you all again soon. 

Just as I expected

I had my final call about working from home with HR today and my request was denied by management.  I have the option of finding another doctor and starting the ADA process all over again but otherwise it’s back to the office.  They offered to find a doctor for me if I wanted.  I don’t want to waste my money and time when they easily have the ability to make the accommodation.  To add insult to injury they said that our leader is looking at possibly permitting full time work from home in the future for our division or a good portion of it, but the details haven’t been worked out yet.  Maybe in 2023 I can work from home full time but as for now I have to go back.  That makes no fucking sense in the world. 

What I said in the call is that I don’t understand why I am permitted to work from home for 3 days per week but the other two I am required to be in the office.  As if that is going to have some affect on my performance or make some kind of a major difference.  My job description has been altered and there is no reason in the world that I have to physically be in the office.  I’ve been doing just fine for close to 2 years and now while were still in the middle of a pandemic you want me to go back.  The conversation shifted to my workspace and how I had an office.  Basically if I want to keep my office I need to go back or they will take that away from me next. 

Look I am not the best employee they have but I’m up there, well respected, known for quick turn around and follow through and always going the extra mile.  Well the only reward is the paycheck I get and the fact that I have an office.  I am killing myself for a job that will replace me tomorrow if I happen to drop off the planet.  I am appreciated to the extent that I am useful but as soon as I no longer am useful that will bring an end to the so called appreciation, not to mention my paycheck. 

I have been reasonably happy here and felt appreciated some of the time but for the past couple years it’s all smoke being blown up my ass and that really sours me.  Considering my age jumping back in the job market is not appealing to me but on one hand I would really like to be able to tell my present employer what I really think.  I’ve also got the option to file complaints but that won’t change anything just cause them problems and get me on a black ball list so the next time they want to make cuts I will be the first to go.  It’s a tipsy pickle but at the end of the day I just need to do the bare minimum of my job, go along to get along. 

The only saving grace if there is any here at all is that I can start light with 1 day a week in the office but by the end of the year I need to be ramped up to 2 days a week because the expectation is that at some point next year we will be at our 3 day a week schedule in the office.  The extra day will push a lot of people over the edge and I kind of think this is all about fucking with us as if we are puppets they can play with.  If your going to a 3 day a week schedule lets just rip the band aid off and go back to 5 days.  I mean that is the ultimate goal, right back to normal?  Well put on your blinders, pretend the pandemic is over and just shove us all back in the building to breathe the same air and hope for the best that your entire workforce doesn’t get wiped out by COVID which is still very much a risk to everyone. 

The longer I go on the more upset I will get so might as well end this rant here.  I am all ears if you have advice but my plan is to just do what is expected of me and hope for the best.  It won’t be an easy adjustment or a fun one but this is called work for a reason.  I do have lots of concerns and apprehension but I have to believe that everything will fall into place which includes Gator.  I know she won’t like the change but I am told that she will adapt.  I don’t know if I will be jumping back in the office next week or not.  I can tell you for sure I won’t be in the entire 3 day week of Thanksgiving.  I also have no plans to be in when my boss is on vacation which will happen towards the end of the year, unless circumstances change.  Driving in snow, ice yeah probably not going to do that either I will milk this for all that it is worth, why not that is what they think I am trying to do now. 

Okay the rant is now over.  I am headed back to the fun.  Have a nice weekend and thanks for stopping by and reading my bitching and moaning. 

Mid Week

We have finally had our first freeze and the forecast has chilly weather in store now.  It’s cold in the morning but warms up a bit in the afternoon and then as soon as the sun disappears the temperature drops. I have turned the furnace up but there are still sometimes when it’s a little nippy. 

Gator is doing okay, she isn’t terribly pleased with the food choices this week.  I don’t have a wide variety of food so she turns her nose up or eats a little bit and walks away.  I can try to do better this weekend but that kind of depends on the supply chain and what is available. 

As for working from home, this could potentially be my last week for that.  I will get an update later this week on what my employer was able to workout amongst management.  I am not terribly optimistic but then again I haven’t abandoned all hope.  I’ve heard from lots of people that the office is by far empty on most days, not everyone is coming in like they should.  I could easily be defiant and it probably wouldn’t be caught for a bit but eventually it would catch up with me.  Like it or not the pandemic isn’t over yet and heaven forbid when we go back to a 5 day in the office work week people will be revolting for sure. 

Tracked down my landscape guy and he’s still got me on his list but it is going to be a bit.  It’s been longer than his 5 weeks but that’s okay it’s not like I am itching to give away my money. 

Caught up pretty well on the TV that I have recorded on my DVR.  It is a bit challenging at times to find content.  Tonight will be one of those nights I think.  I know new stuff is coming to the streaming platforms it’s just a matter of waiting. 

My turkey day friends reached out they want to do the carry out option if it’s available.  I have yet to call to find out and it’s not like I am in a huge hurry.  I have given some thought to spending Thanksgiving alone this year but I think that would probably not be healthy for my mental well-being.  I know it would cause concern with my turkey day friends but to what degree I am uncertain.  I don’t want any drama so I will likely go along to get along.

Back to the fun that is work.  Hope your staying warm and doing well. I will be back with another update before you know it.  Take care and thanks for stopping by.